> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/helge-ernst · updated 2026-11-03

# Helge Ernst (1916–1991)

Helge Ernst is a Danish artist with 104 auction lots recorded since 1989, median price $1,253. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Helge Ernst is recorded as sold in 2024 for $1,995; whether the price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

## What is a Helge Ernst work worth?

Across 64 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Helge Ernst work is $1,253.

The median Helge Ernst painting sells for $1,482 across 73 lots.

The median Helge Ernst print sells for $142 across 10 lots.

The median Helge Ernst work on paper sells for $154 across 2 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Helge Ernst paintings typically sell for $734–$2,700 (the middle half of 61 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 11 | $142†‡ | $283‡ | 90.9% | 2025-10-04 |
| Paintings | 116 | $1,482†‡ | $20,094† | 62.9% | 2026-05-20 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $154† | $178 | 66.7% | 2012-10-09 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 5 | $16,000† | $20,094† | — | 2008-03-05 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Helge Ernst's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (11 lots) median $142 with 90.9% sell-through. Paintings (116 lots) median $1,482, record $20,094. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $20,094 (buyer's premium not included). A typical Helge Ernst painting sells for around 10× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 5 lots) the median is $16,000.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| medium (50–120 cm) | 8 | $56–$253†‡ | $121†‡ | $283‡ |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 5 | $211–$259†‡ | $217†‡ | $1,900† |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 61 | $734–$2,700†‡ | $1,482†‡ | $18,000† |
| large (over 120 cm) | 6 | $1,954–$5,708† | $3,095† | $20,094† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2005 | $20,094† |
| Paintings | 1996 | $18,000† |
| Prints & Editions | 2025 | $283‡ |
| Prints & Editions | 2019 | $275‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2009 | $178 |
| Works on Paper | 2012 | $130† |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Helge Ernst worth?

Across 64 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Helge Ernst work is $1,253. The median Helge Ernst painting sells for $1,482 across 73 lots. The median Helge Ernst print sells for $142 across 10 lots. The median Helge Ernst work on paper sells for $154 across 2 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Helge Ernst paintings typically sell for $734–$2,700 (the middle half of 61 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Helge Ernst painting?

Based on 73 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Helge Ernst painting is $1,482. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Helge Ernst's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Helge Ernst painting is $20,094. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $20,094 (buyer's premium not included).

### What is the average price of a Helge Ernst print?

Based on 10 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Helge Ernst print is $142. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Helge Ernst's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Helge Ernst print is $283. Whether that record price includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### What is the average price of a medium Helge Ernst painting?

Based on 61 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Helge Ernst painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $1,482, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Helge Ernst's auction record?

Helge Ernst's auction record is $20,094, set in 2005. That record lot sold for a hammer price of $20,094 (buyer's premium not included).

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Data last updated 2026-11-03. OpeningBid tracks 15,596,131 auction lots from 579 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Helge Ernst auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/helge-ernst (updated 2026-11-03).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.